Zechariah 3:3 kjv
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zechariah 3:3 nkjv
Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.
Zechariah 3:3 niv
Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.
Zechariah 3:3 esv
Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.
Zechariah 3:3 nlt
Jeshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel.
Zechariah 3 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 64:6 | "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." | Human sin/righteousness defiled |
| Rev 7:13-14 | "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." | Cleansing through Christ's blood |
| Rev 19:8 | "It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." | Righteousness as pure clothing |
| Zech 3:4-5 | "Then he said to those who stood before him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’ And to him he said, ‘Behold, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’" | Immediate divine action of removal/impartation |
| Exod 28:2-3 | "You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother... for glory and for beauty." | Priestly attire must be holy |
| Lev 16:4 | "He shall put on the holy linen tunic..." | High priest's garments for atonement |
| Heb 4:14-16 | "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God..." | Jesus as the perfect High Priest |
| Heb 7:26-27 | "For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained..." | Christ's purity contrasted with human defilement |
| Job 1:6 | "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them." | Satan as accuser in divine court |
| Job 2:1 | "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them..." | Satan again appears before God |
| Rom 8:33-34 | "Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died..." | God justifies, Christ intercedes |
| 1 John 2:1 | "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." | Jesus as our advocate |
| Jude 1:23 | "Save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." | Defilement by flesh |
| Ps 1:5 | "Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment..." | Inability of the wicked to stand |
| Ps 130:3 | "If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" | No one can stand before God's judgment |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." | Exchange of sin for righteousness |
| Phil 3:9 | "Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ..." | Righteousness from God through faith |
| Isa 59:1-2 | "Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened... but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God..." | Sin separates from God |
| Eze 36:25 | "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you." | God's promised cleansing and purification |
| Mal 3:2 | "But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap." | Holiness requires divine purification |
| Eph 5:27 | "So that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." | Church made spotless through Christ |
Zechariah 3 verses
Zechariah 3 3 Meaning
Zechariah 3:3 describes Joshua, the high priest, arrayed in "filthy garments" as he stands before the Angel of the Lord. This imagery powerfully conveys the high priest's, and by extension the nation of Israel's, defiled state due to sin. These "filthy garments" symbolize both the personal sin of Joshua and the collective impurity of the post-exilic community. His presence before the divine judge underscores their unworthiness to serve a holy God, highlighting the profound need for divine cleansing, justification, and restoration before they could fulfill their priestly and covenantal duties.
Zechariah 3 3 Context
Zechariah chapter 3 presents a prophetic vision critical for post-exilic Israel. Following their return from Babylonian captivity, the Jewish people were tasked with rebuilding the temple, but they faced immense spiritual and physical challenges, including external opposition and internal impurity. This specific vision portrays Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord (a divine figure, often understood as a Christophany) and facing accusation from Satan. Zechariah 3:3 sets the scene for this divine tribunal, explicitly stating Joshua's compromised condition with "filthy garments," highlighting the unholiness that permeates Israel's leadership and the nation as a whole. This chapter serves to assure the struggling exiles of God's unyielding grace, His cleansing power, and His unwavering commitment to restore His people and their spiritual leadership for the ultimate coming of the Messiah.
Zechariah 3 3 Word analysis
- Now Joshua (וִיהוֹשׁוּעַ, vi-ho-shu-a): Joshua (Yehoshua), meaning "Yahweh is salvation," is identified as the High Priest of the post-exilic community. He is not Joshua son of Nun but a literal historical figure of Zechariah's time, co-laborer with Zerubbabel. Symbolically, he represents the entire priesthood and, by extension, the sin-burdened nation of Israel standing before God.
- was clothed (לָבוּשׁ, la-vush): This Hebrew word is a passive participle, emphasizing a state or condition rather than an active donning. Joshua was already in this defiled state. This implies a pervasive, entrenched spiritual condition, deeply ingrained and not merely incidental or temporary.
- with filthy (צֹאִים, tso-im): Derived from a root suggesting excrement or impurity, this word indicates severe ritual and moral defilement. It denotes not just 'dirty' but morally abhorrent or spiritually repugnant, making one unfit to stand in a holy presence or perform sacred duties. It powerfully communicates the pervasive sin that disqualified Joshua and Israel from their consecrated role.
- garments (בְגָדִים, bə-gâdîm): Literally "clothes." In the context of the High Priest, these garments were supposed to be "holy" and "for glory and for beauty" (Exod 28:2), signifying purity and fit for divine service. Their defiled state, therefore, symbolized deep-seated sin, unrighteousness, and spiritual shame, contrasting sharply with the clean, priestly vestments required for ministry before God.
- and was standing (עֹמֵד, o-med): This term implies a fixed posture, possibly for service, judgment, or an audience. It positions Joshua directly "on trial" or as present in an official capacity before God's representative. It denotes exposure and accountability.
- before (לִפְנֵי, lif-nê): Literally "to the face of" or "in the presence of," indicating direct and unmediated confrontation or encounter.
- the Angel of the Lord (מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה, mal’akh YHVH): A key figure in the Old Testament, often interpreted by theologians as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ (a Christophany). This divine messenger acts with the authority of God Himself, forgives sins, and interacts directly with individuals in ways that suggest more than angelic status. Joshua standing "before" this figure signifies that the encounter is a divine court or audience of utmost spiritual gravity.
- "Joshua was clothed with filthy garments": This phrase serves as a striking visual metaphor for humanity's state of sin before a holy God. It dramatically illustrates the inability of human righteousness, or even the chosen priesthood, to meet God's standard of purity. This imagery also implies a spiritual disgrace and disqualification from divine service, underscoring the deep-rooted corruption of both personal and national sin.
- "and was standing before the Angel of the Lord": This forms a dramatic courtroom scene, highlighting God's direct involvement in judging and ultimately vindicating His people. The phrase underscores the direct confrontation between human defilement and divine holiness, setting the stage for the crucial intercession and imputation of righteousness that follows in the vision.
Zechariah 3 3 Bonus section
The visual of "filthy garments" functions as a prophetic enactment of Isa 64:6, declaring that even our righteous deeds are tainted. This particular defilement goes beyond mere ceremonial impurity, reaching into the realm of moral culpability and covenant unfaithfulness. The Angel of the Lord’s acceptance of Joshua despite his state and subsequent act of purification highlights God's sovereignty over accusation and His provision for cleansing. This vision not only secured the immediate restoration of the priesthood for the post-exilic community but also served as a profound typology, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate high priestly work— His bearing of humanity's sin and clothing His people with His perfect righteousness, allowing them to truly stand pure before God.
Zechariah 3 3 Commentary
Zechariah 3:3 vividly portrays Joshua, the High Priest, draped in filthy garments while standing before the divine presence. This stark imagery is central to understanding the plight and promised restoration of Israel. The "filthy garments" represent the overwhelming defilement of sin, a spiritual pollution that rendered Joshua—and by extension, the post-exilic nation—unfit to perform sacred duties or to draw near to a holy God. This scene, particularly with Satan present as the accuser (v. 1), signifies a divine courtroom where humanity's unrighteousness is exposed. It powerfully demonstrates that no human being, not even the consecrated high priest, possesses the inherent purity required to stand before God. Thus, the verse emphasizes humanity's utter dependence on divine intervention and grace for cleansing and justification, paving the way for the prophetic announcement of God's act of cleansing and reclothing Joshua with robes of righteousness in the subsequent verses.